12. Repentance

Just as Peter was to stab the fallen man's exposed chest, something threw itself between the sword and its intended target.

The young man haltered when he saw his sister lying atop of the unconscious king, protecting him from the sharp blade. The Pevensie man frowned as his gaze wandered down to the weapon in his hand. It was as if the haze which had until now so completely conquered his mind began to fade away and lose control. What had he been about to do? Peter wasn't quite sure, but he had almost killed his sister to achieve it. The tip of the sword was already covered with blood and a lone, red drop ran down the length of the steel until it reached the handle.

"Your sister has chosen – chosen King Caspian X over you! She has taken a stand, you must kill her, too, and all who stand in your way!"

The former High King blinked to clear the darkness of his thoughts. The eerie whisper mismatched with the sight before him and aided him towards further clarity. Slowly, he began to believe the possibility that the only deception here had been his own.

"Kill her, too?" he asked hoarsely and glanced from the red stain on his sword to the fallen king on the green shrubbery. Peter noticed a string of blue fabric wrapped around the man's bleeding upper arm and a gaping red spot on his shoulder that seemed to widen with every second. The Pevensie boy's eyes widened and his face blanched as he realized his own deeds.

"Don't listen to the Erinye, Peter!" Lucy shrieked from somewhere behind him but the young man could not turn from the truth before him. "Just kill it!"

"They're preventing you from obtaining your rightful power!" a dusky voice hissed. The man looked up into the green woods beyond Caspian and Susan, where a tall, slim woman stood with bushy, brown hair and a band of serpents in her hair. She wore a leather, huntress attire and in her red eyes shone a powerful hate that made the man's heart falter.

"You must kill them."

"No," Peter breathed and staggered around the couple on the ground towards the Erinye, gaining more strength with each step. The hold of darkness that reigned over him was swiftly coming to an end. Freedom was close at hand and he fought for it with every inch of his iron will as he approached the woman. "I don't desire this power, I do not wish to rule over King Caspian or my siblings. I'll never kill anyone I love, least of all my family."

The Erinye snarled at him and raised its hand in a swift motion. The young man saw something metallic reflect the sun's light in her hand, but his own reflexes were much quicker than the creature's. He wasted no time as he impaled it upon his sword all the way to the hilt. As the woman shrieked, the man ducked and covered his ears from the shrill noise. The Erinye was dead and gone then, and if it hadn't been for the dark blood on the vegetation and the gnawing guilt in Peter's mind, he would have thought it had never been there at all.

As soon as she disappeared, the eldest Pevensie felt as if a heavy weight lifted from his burdened shoulders and he could once again breathe and think freely. He inhaled deeply, feeling the sweet air of empowerment and familiar heart return to him. Not a second passed before the guilt of his actions hit him square in the gut and he swirled back to watch the fallen king of Narnia.

"…Caspian?" Peter breathed as he dropped his sword, hurried over to his sister and knelt by her side.

The young woman had ripped loose another long piece of fabric from the hem of her dress. She pressed the fabric against the stab wound on the Telmarine's shoulder and the siblings watched as the fabric quickly stained a deep crimson. Peter's heart ached within his chest as he heard his sister's mournful sniffles. He could but gaze at her solemn profile with no notion how to help her. He was the cause of this gruel event and the fault was all his own. In one stroke of guided madness, he had murdered his closest friend and wounded his own dear sister beyond repair.

"Susan…" the man's voice broke and he found himself unable to complete a sentence. He did not know the words to this apology, for not a single word he could think of could ever remedy what had transpired.

"I know," his fair sister whispered and wiped a quiet tear that dripped from the corner of her eye, soon chased by others. Slowly she raised her gaze to meet his, and Peter's heart constricted even further at the look in her red-shot eyes glimmering with grief and heartbreak. "I know, Peter. It's not your fault."

The man ignored her words of comfort. "Is he…?"

"He's still alive," the brunette assured even as she handled the bloody fabric against Caspian's wound with shaking hands, "But we have to get him back to Cair Paravel and heal him with Lucy's cordial swiftly. Help me get him to sit up so I can tie a makeshift bandage round his torso."

Caspian felt inexplicably tired, as if he hadn't slept a single night through his entire life. It felt as if he had literally been drained from all the strength his muscles and mind had ever possessed. Still, ironically, enough, he felt as if he had done nothing but sleep for days and days.

He struggled hard against the tight hold of sleep and managed to crack open a heavy eyelid. He saw a blurry mass of purple and wood above him and blinked a couple of times to regain focus of his surroundings.

As soon as he attempted to clear his mind, his senses also strengthened. He immediately felt a strange tingle in his left shoulder and right upper arm. It felt like a butterfly's wings had kissed his body and though long gone, he could still feel their caress on his arm and shoulder.

The man closed his eyes once more and tried to remember the events that had brought him to this moment. He remembered flashes at first. Flashes of confusion, pain and blood. A battle between himself and… Peter. Caspian suddenly recollected everything. He had fought the Pevensie High king in an attempt to break through the Erinye's hold of him, but to no avail. He had lowered his sword and Peter had stabbed him. He clearly remembered the sudden pain in his shoulder and how the world had turned dark just seconds after. After that, he remembered nothing until this moment.

He focused on his surroundings again, desperate to figure out if they could tell him if he was dead or alive. He exhaled in relief upon finally recognizing the insides of his own private chambers. The king's vast bedroom was lit up by a few burning candles upon the nightstand by his wide bed and he watched the long shadows play far up in the ceiling, beyond the purple, majestic canopy curtain.

"Oh, you're awake," a relieved voice breathed by his side and Caspian turned towards the source of the voice. It was his dear friend Cornelius. Judging by his tired eyes and askew glasses, the half-dwarf had been sitting idle watch by the king's bedside for many long hours.

"Of course I'm awake, friend," the Telmarine man breathed and was surprised to hear his own voice so weak as a direct contrast to the certainty of his words. The old man raised a glass of water from the nightstand and helped the young king drink without a word. Caspian nodded in thanks and settled back against the cushions as Cornelius sat the glass back upon the table. The king cleared his throat and tried again, this time with more power, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"It seemed touch and go there for a minute," the Lord Chancellor explained and something weary flashed across his elderly eyes.

"Tell me what transpired, old friend," the king implored of his trusted ally. "And tell me what became of you, Queen Susan, King Edmund and Queen Lucy."

"I'll tell you all I know," Cornelius agreed with a short nod and leaned closer to the awaiting king. "But it's quite the story, are you sure you have the strength for it at this hour?"

"Talk," Caspian encouraged with a nod.

"As I'm sure you guessed, Queen Susan and I faced one of the Erinyes. Or rather, the Gentle Queen faced it on her own. I cannot tell you what it did to her, but I believe it spoke to her mind of some great pain. She killed it without hesitation, though... And from what I hear, Queen Lucy killed the second one," the old man explained and leaned back once more in his seat. His eyes wandered into the recent memories, as he continued, "After her great ordeal, Queen Susan and I hurried back to you and High King Peter just in time. You had lowered your sword as we drew close and the High King stabbed you, before kicking you to the ground... I must admit, my heart stopped beating when I saw you lay motionless on the forest floor. I was incapable to act. Thank Aslan instead for the Gentle Queen's strength."

"... Susan?" the king's voice betrayed his curiosity even as he tried to conceal it.

"She saved your life, your majesty," Cornelius explained with a proud, affectionate grin. "It was rather astonishing… The Queen threw herself before the sword without hesitation. She could have been killed by the hands of her own brother. I watched her as she moved; there was no thought of the repercussions in her wide, fearful eyes. There wasn't even a decision made, she just… threw herself before the sword to save you. A remarkable young woman, I say."

"Yes, remarkable," Caspian agreed distantly as he pondered these news with an impassive face even while his mind turned like a raging storm. "You said I owe my life to her?"

The old half-dwarf nodded. "High King Peter stopped his assault, yes, which is thankful or you would both be dead! The man swung his sword as if to kill you, but couldn't when he saw his sister protect you. It seemed just the shock he needed to return to reason and kill the final Erinye. From there, we quickly transported you back to Cair Paravel. Lucy's cordial was quickly put to use, and you assigned bed rest."

"How many days was I out?" Caspian questioned as soon as his friend finished his tale.

"Oh, it's the only been two days," the elder man turned his head towards the window and the pale light that was searching its way between thick curtains. "Well, technically, it's the third day I suppose, since dawn is approaching."

"Three days?" the young man frowned as he wearily ran a hand across his short beard.

"Yes. The cordial did it's work splendidly and your wounds seem to have healed. Though, the queens ordered a strong sedative for you to recover more swiftly and get some much needed rest after troublesome days. You need not worry, while you recover Lord Trumpkin has assumed command aided by the Kings and Queens of Old," the Lord Chancellor hesitated a beat, "Though... High King Peter was greatly worried for your injuries and, I believe, much afraid of his own actions – No one has scarcely seen him these past days since our return to Cair Paravel."

The brown-haired king nodded in understanding. "Could you pass on my gratitude to the queens, old friend? And send for Peter, too, please. We need to have a word."

Peter hesitated outside the grand, wide door to the Caspian's chamber. The dark wood seemed to contain all of his fears on the other side and he was unsure whether or not he was prepared for this moment.

What he had done had been terrible and evil, and had almost resulted in the loss of his dearest friend. Peter had come so close to stepping over a line with no return. Even though he had barely glimpsed the other side, he had been terrified of himself. The events that had transpired had been his own doings and no one else's. It scared him to no end, but still he was an honorable man and would not shy away from facing his inner demons. He owed it, if not to himself, then to Caspian X to make amends.

With a deep breath, he reached for the handle and pushed open the door. The large bedroom was decorated in rich colors of royal purple and gold, colors that seemed to fit the young king and his regency.

The left wall of the room was almost entirely covered by large windows that let in the hopeful light of the day outside. On the right of the door, stood a massive closet of darkest wood and by its side a small table and chair of the same wooden material. Further down the room stood a Telmarine divan and another table, this one with several comfortable looking seats around it and a chess board upon it. A life-sized painting of Caspian X hung above the divan.

"It's terrible, I agree," the familiar accented voice floated over to the Pevensie boy from the large four poster bed that stood at the centre of the wall opposite the door. The king looked tired but healthy as he rested beneath the covers, a touch of boredom already evident in his brown eyes. He waved his hand in indication for the other man to enter. "It wasn't my choice to have it painted or put up there. Though I suppose it's better in here than to flaunt it around the palace."

"No, no, it's good," the Pevensie jerked his thumb absently over his shoulder towards the art piece as he stepped towards the bed. "A bit small, perhaps. I would have gone bigger. Covered the whole wall." The two men exchanged a warm smile at Peter's feeble attempt of a joke. The smile on the younger man's face soon died away rapidly. "...How are you doing?"

"It wasn't your fault, Peter," Caspian said sternly and waved his friend closer still. "I wanted you to know that."

The other man sighed as he slowly made his way to the foot-end of the bed, though still keeping his distance. He hesitated. "…How… How can you say that after what I did?"

The Telmarine man shook his head sternly and hurriedly scooted up to recline against the pillows, now in a sitting position in which he could better see his friend. He waited until Peter met his eyes, before he countered, "You were under the influence of very powerful magic. It wasn't your fault. Remember when Jadis attempted to regain her life and tricked us both during your last visit to Narnia? There was nothing either of us could do then, she had us under her spell and we would have surrendered to her will if it had not been for Edmund's actions."

"This was different!" the Pevensie argued.

"How?" the other king inquired to know.

Peter huffed and shrugged as he struggled for the right words to express his plight. Finding no good answer, he sighed in defeat and as his shoulders slumped, he admitted, "... The Erinyes didn't affect the others as they affected me."

"Is that what you think?" Caspian mused with a sigh. His dark eyes held his friend's firmly as he explained what he had seen with his own eyes, "Queen Susan was beginning to be affected much like you. She told me... of a dark vision before we found you on the exercise fields. Even there she broke down because of something I could not see. In the forest, the Erinyes separated us by influencing your sisters. I talked with Cornelius and Trumpkin and we have concluded that the Erinyes began to attack your mind, Peter, and did not do anything to your siblings until they had you under their spell."

"Perhaps you're right..." the young man sank onto the covers of the bed and leaned against the bedpost by the foot-end. "Still... Neither Susan nor Lucy will share what the Erinyes told them, even though they managed to kill one each. Edmund seemed pretty unscathed, thank Aslan. He's already had enough from Jadis, as it is. Still… I don't understand it. Why did they choose me first?"

It was Caspian's turn to hesitate as he tilted his head sideways slightly and scratched his beard in contemplation. "The Erinyes only went after you and your siblings, Peter. That in itself, I believe, can point to only one thing."

The other man quickly caught on to his friend's train of thought, "Someone sent them against us. But for what purpose? Could this have to do with the Mist and the very reason as to why we have returned?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry," the Telmarine king said. "As for why they chose you primarily… Now, this is merely a guess but based on Cornelius' words and what I've read myself, the Erinyes attack one's doubts. Maybe they chose you first because your doubts were the easiest to target. Or, perhaps, the opposite. You needed the most work, and thus was attacked first."

Peter let the words sink in for a minute. Finally he nodded, "... Either way, I owe you an explanation for what transpired."

"Very well. If you feel so inclined," Caspian patiently waved his hand for his friend to continue.

The Pevensie exhaled slowly before he began to explain the events that he had gone over and over in his mind. "The Erinyes attacked my pride as king, I suppose one could call it... Last time I was here, I handed over the torch of Narnia to your awaiting hands with the full awareness that it would be my last visit here. Now that I'm inexplicably back, I can't help but miss the throne. I was High King for so long that now, even though I know Narnia is more than safe in your hands, it is not a pleasant thought to know I am… reduced to excess baggage. I find myself without a purpose or path to walk. I pray you forgive me for the pain I have caused you in all this."

"Friend… I know you aren't power hungry, and that it was merely a part of the beasts' mind tricks. I also understand your feelings. Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia. Nothing will ever alter this," the Telmarine spoke in acceptance of the explanation given. "As far as I am concerned, there is nothing to forgive between us."

The Pevensie nodded and then spoke with firm words, "I'll never challenge you for the throne, Caspian. You have my word upon it. It belongs to you, and none of us former regents."

"Thank you, Peter. I shall hope no more Erinyes appear then…" the dark-haired man joked and watched as a sparkle of his normal self returned to Peter's bright eyes. Caspian, too, smiled as he continued, "... Still, I would not have you without a purpose. I have extended an invitation to all four of you to join my private council before, and I repeat it now. Edmund has joined the council more than once and we are most grateful for his contributions... Rule with me, at least to some extent. You may not yet hold the formal power of High King, but you are still a King. Your insight and understanding of Narnia is of great importance for everyone's future. Though you cannot have my throne – which I not intend to give you anyway – could you at least consider acting as a most esteemed adviser to the throne?"

The other man rose from the bed and bowed his head in gratitude. "It would be my honor, your majesty. Perhaps some time on the council will help me regain my footing and find my path again. I'm also grateful for your forgiveness so soon."

"My forgiveness was never hard to get," the Telmarine pointed out. "It's forgiving yourself that will be the tough journey, I presume."

"I suppose you're right... It's strange though, isn't it, with everything that's transpired lately?" Peter met his friend's eyes with a weary expression as he lowered his voice and sat back down. "The Erinyes, the Mist… Too big occurrences to be only coincidences, don't you agree? I've long since stopped believing in coincidences, anyway. I fear the reason for our return is clouded in shadow, yet…"

"... Yet?" the dark-haired king's own voice was intrigued and low, too, adapting to the new topic with ease for the question had long been on his mind also. "You are thinking your return was not to aid Narnia then? I, too, have noticed that everything started happening after you returned… Do you believe it possible that some other force than Aslan sent you back here?"

"You read my mind, Caspian," Peter held his friend's gaze, and both man read the other's worries plainly. There were no secrets between them, and had not been since their friendship first had been forged. There was but utter trust, even despite the recent events that had led them to this moment. "For now, though, let's keep that concern between us, I don't want to alarm my siblings."

"Do not worry," the elder man assured at length. "Whatever is after you and your siblings, we will stop this – as you said yourself upon your return – together. You have my word as High King that I shall find out the truth and find an end to it."

Peter smiled warmly at his friend but hesitated slightly. He could not help but ask the burning question a final time, "So no hard feelings about the… eh…?"

"Queen Lucy's cordial has healed it all, it doesn't hurt one bit," the king spoke and moved his arm as if to prove his statement. "You must stop blaming yourself for the actions those beasts are responsible for. Remember, it could have been the other way around, with me stabbing you in the shoulder."

The Pevensie boy snorted as he rose from the bed and turned to the exit. "That's assuming you would get the upper hand of me…"

As his shoes tapped across the stone floors, the Telmarine king walked steadfastly towards his study. His first mission out of bed rest was to relieve Trumpkin of the command and his second one of a more personal nature. As he rounded a corner he nodded his head briefly as a few servants further ahead bowed deep to him. He'd grown accustomed to the treatment that came with the crown, but some days he longed for more informal days. Today was one of those days.

Shortly, his long strides brought him to the decorated wooden door and from inside the king heard two voices speak. He stepped inside and was not surprised to see Trumpkin behind the large desk with Queen Susan seated in a chair opposite the dwarf. To understand that the Gentle Queen had lent her "DLF" some aid in ruling Narnia was no surprise to her kind, passionate nature.

"Your highness," the dwarf lord greeted as he saw his king in the open doorway. The young queen swiftly swirled around in her seat and Caspian could not ignore the notion that her forest green dress matched her bright eyes like the sun in the skies. As soon as her eyes caught his, however, the brunette lowered her gaze to the floor and kept it there. Trumpkin eyed the scene before him before he cleared his throat and jumped down from the tall seat. "I assume you have come to reclaim your rightful command. You will be pleased to hear that everyone has saved their troubles for your return to health."

The dwarf bowed his head to the queen and then took his leave without further ado. Trumpkin closed the door as he did, and the Telmarine king could not help but wonder what the dwarf had already guessed about the situation ahead.

"It pleases me..." the brunette began slowly and Caspian turned back to watch her. "...to see you restored to health, my lord."

"And it pleases me to see you in my study, for I had much desired to speak with you," the king said and felt his throat go drier with each step he took towards her. He knew his heart was beating out of control, for he was well aware just what he desired to discuss with the young woman that had so long ago captivated him. "I wanted to thank you, Gentle Queen, for all that you have done to me."

"It was nothing. I would have done the same for anyone," the queen breathed and her voice faded into the corners of the room even as the King closed in on her seat. Susan, too, felt her heart thunder within her chest, but for other reasons than the Telmarine man's. She had planned on staying detached and distant from the man in order to spare them both future heart grief. The future was, after all, not hers to share with him. The images shown to her by the Erinye were still fresh, like a gaping wound to her soul. The beast had whispered 'This life was never yours, for you don't belong in this world' and the words now echoed in the queen's mind.

To remain in his presence was physically painful and in one fluid motion she rose from her seat. As the handsome man stood before her he was close enough for his shadow to fall over her and Susan could not escape from either his gaze or his study as easily as she had hoped.

"There was something else I desired," the dark-haired king continued timidly as he read the woman's insecurities. He knew he was treading closer to dangerous grounds, but after nearly losing his life, he figured the chance could outweigh the risks that awaited ahead. The man opened his mouth to continue when Susan's slender, pale hand suddenly landed on his chest and effectively stopped him.

"Please, do not do this."

Caspian frowned. "You know not what I will say."

"I do," the woman disagreed with a somber look upon her fair features as her hand fell away from his chest to hang numbly by her side. It was the first time since returning that she openly acknowledged their existing feelings, and the moment was everything she had wished it not to be. Indeed, she knew, instead of what she wished, she had to lie in order to make amends for any danger she was to his happy future. "As you should know my reply. I have told you once, it would not work between us."

"But we have more time together now," the king argued meekly. "And my fee-"

"Please!" Susan interrupted and her voice rose an octave as her gaze met his. Panic roared within her and she did not know how to react to the dazed pain she saw reflected in his gaze. She had already set herself a course, however. It had been evident to her from the start, but never more clear since realizing the man's heart would belong to another woman one day. It was the way things had to be. "It cannot be. My feelings are changed. Forgive me if my actions have made you doubt my intentions... but I would prefer to be left alone."

The Telmarine shook his head in disbelief as he leaned closer. The fear in the woman's eyes almost outshone the moon in its strength and Caspian could not read the truth behind her words. He had always been aware of her doubts, but this seemed on a whole other level. "You speak in a different tone than a few days ago... What did the Erinye tell you?"

Surprised to hear the king hit the right note so swiftly, Susan gently pushed past the king before he could see the tears which threatened to well up in her eyes. "It matters not. It made no difference to my heart. I have not returned to Narnia to be your wife, we both know this. Somethings are not meant to be. Instead, I will gladly help you find your rightful queen."

"Very well..." Caspian's frail voice was uttered low, but still seemed to fill the room louder than any other words he could have uttered. The king nodded to himself even as his heart shattered inside his chest. He raised his eyes and watched the woman as she lingered by the door. Her back was noticeably stiff even covered by her long locks and she did not turn to face him. "If this is what you truly wish, I will take a step back and honor your decision."

Without one word, the young queen opened the door to the study and walked outside as two worlds crumbled and fell apart in different directions.

To be continued!